Breakout player: DT Anthony "Freak" Johnson. Perfect time for a guy named Freak to join the team. LSU lost All-America Drake Nevis, but traditionally a strong front four team, landed a Freak. The 300-pound freshman is being touted for instant stardom and easily could be the Tigers' best defensive player this season.

SCHEDULE

9/3 vs. Oregon (at Arlington)

9/10 NORTHWESTERN STATE

9/15 at Miss. State*

9/24 at West Virginia

10/1 KENTUCKY*

10/8 FLORIDA*

10/15 at Tennessee*

10/22 AUBURN*

11/5 at Alabama*

11/12 WESTERN KENTUCKY

11/19 at Ole Miss*

1 5 ARKANSAS*

Home games in CAPS

*-SEC game

SIX POINTS

1. Movin' on Down. That would be QB Jordan Jefferson, moving from the deluxe apartment in the sky — or starter's role — to the stands. Or maybe not. But Jefferson, not the most beloved LSU figure after throwing 10 picks against seven TDs last season, is in deep trouble after a bar fight and ensuing suspension. And then there is the even odder police search of Jefferson's residence in which 49 pairs of shoes were confiscated. Strange situation.

2. Lee's Generalship. If Jefferson is held out for the opener — or longer — the position will fall into the hands of old Tigers hand Jarrett Lee, a starter as a freshman who also has had accuracy issues and has spent time on the bench in favor of Jefferson the past two seasons. That's not promising. By season's end, look for JUCO transfer and ex-Georgia Bulldog Zach Mettenberger to be the QB of choice. Remember, though, LSU is the team that wins national titles with the likes of Matt Mauck and Matt Flynn and doesn't win it all with JaMarcus Russell. Then again, this is not a group that needs a caretaker QB. They need a playmaker.

3. Shepherded Out. Just what the team needed on top of Jefferson — and LB Josh Johns — facing felony charges. The Tigers' receivers, Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard, weren't the big playmakers as seen in the past, but now LSU is minus Shepard for who knows how long. Shepard was declared ineligible last week for violating an NCAA bylaw on discussing an NCAA investigation with a teammate. No word yet on how long he'll be out, but he's definitely gone for Oregon.

4. Good to Have the Drake. And Patrick Peterson. And Kelvin Sheppard. The Tigers return six defensive starters but are missing All-Americas in lineman Drake Nevis and CB Patrick Peterson. The team also will make do without its most active member of the front seven, LB Kelvin Sheppard, who will turn out to be the most difficult to replace. But this LSU, and there is plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Morris Claiborne was tested often at CB with Peterson on the other side and proved up to the task. Plus, the line has a five-star freshman coming in, Anthony "Freak" Johnson. Any time a team has someone named Freak coming in, that's almost always a positive.

5. 1,000-yard Gap. The Tigers' running back will be the fifth-leading rusher last season. That's not usually a positive sign, especially when there's almost a 1,000-yard difference between him and the leading rusher. But Spencer Ware, who gained 175 yards last season, probably won't have much trouble replacing Stevan Ridley, who had 1,147 yards. Ware showed his ability in the Cotton Bowl against Texas A&M, gaining 102 yards and averaging 10 a carry. With four starters back on the line, this should be one area where LSU can feel comfortable.

6. Geaux on the Road. If the Tigers do emerge in the SEC title game, they will have earned it despite a nasty schedule. A neutral-site meeting with Oregon in Arlington. Road contests at overlooked Mississippi State and hard-to-overlook Alabama. Factor in a home meeting with Arkansas and a trip to West Virginia, and LSU will be tested most of the way.

SEASON AT A GLANCE

On the Tigers: "We're not ignoring Oregon. When we step across that white line and take the field, we leave everything on the exterior behind and focus on football. We did that for Hurricane Katrina and Rita and for Gustav, and we're doing it again. They come to practice with a great attitude, and they're fighting hard to get things right, but they're people and it takes some time." — LSU coach Les Miles on the team's multitude of preseason distractions.

Feels like: 2004. Maybe expectations were a bit too high. The Tigers took their share of a split national title in 2003 and started the season ranked third in one poll and fourth in another. LSU finished 16th, despite the return of RBs Alley Broussard and Joseph Addai.

Key game: Nov. 5 at Alabama. The Tigers still could lose to Oregon and be in the national title hunt. But lose this one, and LSU likely can kiss national, SEC and SEC West titles goodbye.

Why they could be No. 1: The defense will be tough, and the running game still will excel.

Why they will be No. 4: Quarterback is going to be an issue. A big one, even before Jefferson got suspended. The defense is back heavy and a little untested at linebacker.

Trouble if: No one seizes the QB role, and the team struggles from the top down.

Countdown

For the 11th season in a row, Caller-Times staff members have voted for the Top 15 college football teams in the nation. Teams will be counted down and previewed until No. 1. Here is the schedule: